FUNKY FRIDAY - with reader 'Indie Girl'

We welcome a reader this week, someone I got to know on Twitter and who I have good reason to believe may one day get a book of her own out there.

So let's settle with Elle and find out a bit more about her and what she likes to read.

As an avid reader, what ticks all the boxes for you?

As a mum of two who works full-time I need books for escapism that make me laugh, or at the very least that make me smile!

You can take five books on holiday - what are they?

Union Street by Pat barker. It’s a snapshot that is so bleak it’s terrifying - it’s proof that life for modern women has improved hugely since the 70’s.

Charlie Big Potatoes by Phil Robinson. A cautionary tail of the highs and lows of drugs, I really loved this book and had great empathy for him.

My Mad Fat Teenage Diary by Rae Earl. Loved this, it was funny and heartbreaking and a fantastic read.

Lottie’s Luck by Amanda Egan (!!!) At the time of answering these questions I'm four chapters in and looking forward to reading while flying.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  I loved that it was written from the two opposing perspectives of man and wife - quite surreal and very very odd in places!

Dream time!  Ideal dinner party - five guests, dead or alive - who would they be and why?

Morrissey – caustic wit (not sure what I’d cook him as I’ve returned to my meat eating ways).

Jim Morrison – I wouldn’t be wanting Poetry Jim – I’d want Party Jim.

Courtney Love – I can’t see anyone eating anything at this dinner party but I imagine she would have some great stories to tell.

Janet Street Porter – again, great stories and I think she might help me keep the peace with the above.

Jamie Oliver ... well I’m going to need a hand cooking for these picky guests aren’t I? Not sure whiskey, a few lines of cocaine and a carrot will really cut it!

What kind of books make you want to chuck them at the wall?

Anything with the word cupcake in the title!

50 Shades of Grey was utter dirge in my opinion – not my bag at all!

Is there one book you can read over and over again?

Tiger’s Eye by Judy Blume

My Mad Fat Teenage Diary – Rae Earl

Maribou Stork Nightmares – Irvine Welsh

What were the books you read as a child that got you hooked?

I was an only child in the 1970’s.  TV was slim pickings, there were no games consoles so I read avidly. I started off with Enid Blyton (I rile against the recent criticism of her books, she wrote about the time and her books reflect that and the ideals and prejudices of those times), The Magic Faraway Tree, The Famous Five and I loved Mallory Towers. I yearned to go to boarding school, sleep in a dorm and have midnight feasts; it was certainly a far cry from a 60’s built council estate in Jarrow and the discontent of Thatcher’s Britain! I progressed to Judy Blume and learned about life, love and relationships through the likes of Are You There God It’s Me Margaret, Forever and Tiger’s Eye.

That concludes my Funky Friday and I if I sound interesting, I can be found on Twitter @indiegirl101 

Thanks for dropping in, Elle [and no, I didn't bribe her for plugging Lottie's Luck !]

FUNKY FRIDAY - with author Francis Potts

This week on FUNKY FRIDAY, I chat with author Francis Potts.  He was offered tea or coffee - he went for wine!

Francis, you freely admit to being a young Enid Blyton fan (weren't we all?). Tell me what it was that grabbed you in her novels and do you hold her responsible for your need to write?

Hmm. Has someone been reading Carol’s blog? Enid Blyton isn’t responsible for my need to write (I think of it more as a desire than a need, anyway), but she did teach me something. Stories should be readable. People have told me that they like my style. I didn’t think I had a style. I thought I was just telling stories.

How do you deal with a bad review? Are you a sulker or do you just shrug and get on with it?

Mostly shrug and move on. I don’t see the point of a review that just says ‘I didn’t like this’.

You say you enjoy chick lit. Can you tell us why and what makes a good chick lit read for you?

Hmm. Carol’s blog again? For me a good chick lit read is contemporary, has good dialogue, and a happy ending. Nothing challenging, no wars, no vampires, werewolves, or BDSM. Enid Blyton for grownups.

That's exactly how I see chick lit - I like it to do what it says on the tin. Right. Dream time. What's your ultimate goal as a writer?

To write a bestseller that isn’t run of the mill. A number of reviews describe my stories as ‘quirky’. I’d like to write a quirky bestseller, and make a squillion.

Someone once asked me this question and it got me thinking. If you were offered a squillion pounds but told that you could never write again, would you take it?

Yes. I could probably handle lounging around somewhere warm, maybe on a shady marble terrace, with lots of intelligent and talented women who would chat, pour glasses of red wine and read to me. Maybe a few dancing girls.

Yep - imagination went into overdrive there, didn't it?! Describe your ideal writing day. You may include dancing girls if you wish.

The dancing girls would probably be a distraction. I’d keep them for later. Or when someone gives me a squillion quid. Just a quiet day, without too many interruptions or other things that need doing.

Mean question! How often do you check your sales? I freely admit to hourly, if I'm at home, if that helps!

During a free promo, every few hours. Otherwise once every week or two.

Wow - such willpower! I have to stop myself from being so obsessed.

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Planner or Winger?

Winger through and through.

Night or Morning?

Whenever I get time.

Doer or procrastinator?

Doer.

Writing/first draft or editing?

Now? Finishing the first draft of a collaboration. Life After Pole Dancing.

Tea or coffee?

Wine.

Thank you so much for joining me, Francis.  It's been fun. Hic!  Now I'll let you get back to those dancing girls.

You can follow Francis on Twitter @FPotts, buy his books here or visit his very funny blog.

NEWSFLASH

My Christmas novella 'Cinderella's Buttons' is due for release next Wednesday, 30th October.  You can read all about it here.